Campus Life

Okanagan College student retools career after injury

When an on-the-job injury sidelined 25-year-old Andrea Grover from her job as a Health Care Assistant she knew immediately what she had to do – go back to school.

Grover, who graduated from Okanagan College in 2011 as a Health Care Assistant, was working at a residential care facility last summer when she was hurt and no longer able to perform the physical requirements of her job.

“At that point I knew my best option was to return to Okanagan College,” says Grover. “I was so well trained for my job in health care that I wanted the same preparation for my next career.”

So Grover enrolled in the Administrative Assistant certificate program at the College in September 2013.

On Thursday, June 26, Grover will be addressing the graduating class as student speaker and will join 430 of her fellow graduands receiving credentials at the College’s Summer convocation.

This is the sixth and final ceremony of 2014, during which the College will award credentials to students in programs such as Therapist Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant, Human Service Worker and Office Administration as well as Continuing Studies certificate programs.

The ceremony also recognizes its fourth Honorary Fellow award recipient; lawyer Garry Benson QC, who is being honoured for his work advocating for environmental and Aboriginal interests within industry. Festivities commence at 6 p.m. in the Courtyard of the Kelowna Campus.

More than 2,100 students will have graduated from Okanagan College in 2014 before the end of the month.

The first Convocation of the year was held in January and honoured 299 students. On June 6 and 7, the College conferred nearly 1,400 credentials on students earning credentials in academic, vocational and trades programs.

On June 25, a ceremony in Vernon will recognize students earning certificates, diplomas and degrees from Continuing Studies, Business Administration, Writing and Publishing, Health Care and Arts and Science.

The Vernon ceremony also honours the 2014 Distinguished Service Award recipient, acclaimed author and retired Okanagan College Regional Dean John Lent.